The Official R2R Mantis Shrimp Thread!

[Davesgt]

yea it seems to be hard to find them that small now. i got mine around 2 1/2 " and thats the last ive seen at that size, which stinks cause he was awesome at that size lol. this is the last pic i had of mine. :sad:

 

[matty0206]

I am new to keeping mantis and am slowly finding they are awesome creatures. Here is mine she is an appx 3" O. Scyllarus.

 

[ritter6788]

Dang it! You guys are making me want to get another.

 

[FragBuddy]

I have a zebra mantis in my refugium with a coin bearing frogfish..they leave each other alone

 

[ritter6788]

I have a zebra mantis in my refugium with a coin bearing frogfish..they leave each other alone

Pics! :smile:

 

[FragBuddy]

Pics! :smile:

believe it lol can't take pics cause the mantis is always in the sand

 

[matty0206]

Here is mine eating Vermatid snails off the rock:



Sorry for the crappy quality, it was with my phone real quick.

 

[JuanGutz]

Here is my peacock, I picked him up yesterday he seems a little out if it but did eat a peppermint shrimp and flares up when my hand is close to the tank so hope those are some good signs! He hasn't really gone into his rock maze yet just stays in the sand if there's anything I should know please share and enjoy the pics( crappy iPhone pics but is what it is)

Forgot to turn the flash off he didn't like it

 

[madehtsobi0109]

Nice! How much was it?

 

[kschweer]

Wow guys! Very nice. I have always wanted to keep one of these guys.

 

[JuanGutz]

Nice! How much was it?

$54 but I didn't pay that price idk if you guy can tell but I think he has shell rot on his left side, he has rust spots. So right now I'm over feeding him hoping he will molt it off.

 

[madehtsobi0109]

Thats not a bad price!

Oh yeh I see it. Hope the molt helps!

 

[ritter6788]

$54 but I didn't pay that price idk if you guy can tell but I think he has shell rot on his left side, he has rust spots. So right now I'm over feeding him hoping he will molt it off.

I've found that not using bright reef lighting helps too. I had one with shell rot that got progressively worse. I turned off the white light and used only dim blue actinics and the shell rot seemed to stop. After a couple of molts it was gone.

 

[matty0206]

From what I understand for peacocks especially, you need to keep the water very clean and/or keep the lighting very low. In the wild they are a deeper water species and live in low light. There are other species that are better suited for reef tanks but they are much smaller. I don't run any lights over my peacock tank and just use room light. I keep a damsel with mine for more movement but it is pretty much a species tank just for the mantis.

 

[madehtsobi0109]

Got a question!

Do smaller peacock mantis not exhibit the colors as in larger ones?

Saw this at the LFS today

Is this a peacock?

 

[ritter6788]

Not a peacock. Hard to tell what exact species it is.

O. Scyllarus keep the same brilliant colors no matter the size.




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[madehtsobi0109]

The guy at the store said he might be one just small so not showing the colors...

Man these guys are hard to find!

 

[ritter6788]

The guy at the store said he might be one just small so not showing the colors...

Man these guys are hard to find!

I can tell you 100% that's it's not a peacock. That mantis will always be that color. There are a few that change color due to conditions, surroundings and lighting but not that one in your picture and not O. scyllarus.

O. scyllarus come from deeper waters of Indonesia meaning someone has to go down there and collect them. They aren't as common as the hitchhikers that come in on live rock.


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[madehtsobi0109]

Cool thanks for the confirmation Ritter!

 

[Reef Fever]

So a local guy got this little hitchiker. was thinkin about puttin him in my fuge if he wants to trade for some frags. anyone else done this?